As an individual who values artistic creation and freedom of speech, I would like the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian Institution to know that I am deeply distressed and saddened over the cowardly decision to censor the exhibition "Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture" by removing the video by the late artist David Wojnarowicz titled "A Fire in My Belly," thereby displaying an unnecessary capitulation to political pressure from various… Continue

Things handmade and handwritten have a special appeal to me -- perhaps it's something about the humanness of their imperfection and scale. Who doesn't like to find a real letter in the mailbox amidst the stack of bills and solicitations? Postmarked from France, I turned the envelope over in my hands and opened it with curiosity.

Written on stationery imprinted with two pretty leaves in the upper left and a return address of "Suzanne Lopez, 1 rue du 11 Novembre, 64340 Boucau France,"… Continue